Plug and jack structure



Feb. 7, 1939. T. OBSZARNY PLUG AND JACK STRUCTURE Filed May 2, 1958INSULATION jeq/qre 0552 INSULATION az zzy I Z15 #273472 ey Patented Feb.7, 1939 PATENT. OFFICE PLUG AND JACK STRUCTURE Thedorc Obszarny,

Chicago,

111., assignor to Guardian Electric Mfg. 00., Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application May 2, 1938, Serial No. 205,420

2 Claims.

This present invention relates to plug and jack constructions of thetype especially suitable for use in multiple units, including banks orgroups, for simultaneously completing or breaking por- 5 tions of aplurality of different electrical circuits, for controlling a widevariety of electrical devices or apparatus. The invention, moreparticularly, is directed to certain novel improvements in plugconstructions and mountings, and in the cooperative relation of therespective elements carrying the plugs and the jacks.

It has been common practice in the manufacture of plug and jackconstructions of a certain type, to form theplug of a piece of tubularmetal stock with an annular shoulder, intermediate its length, andadjacent one end so as to be seated close to the face of the mountingpanel of insulating material, The end portion of the plug, beyond theshoulder, extends through an aperture in the mounting panel, and isriveted over in one of several conventional practices for securing theplug in place.. To provide for connection of the plug to a conductorwire, a terminal clip having an annular body is mounted on the tubularplug intermediate the shoulder and the mounting panel, and said annularbody is formed with a laterally extending arm, whichserves as aterminal, to which the conductor wire is attached, as by soldering. Itfrequently happens that the terminal clips are not tightly gripped, thuspermitting them to swivel about the plug, and this is especially truewhen the clips become heated, as when soldering the conductor wiresthereto. This condition is highly objectionable because it frequentlyhappens, that the soldering flux, such as resin, may inadvertently flowaround the shoulder and clip, resulting in forming an insulating bodybetween said plug and the clip, While this condition may not be readilyapparent at the time it occurs, it will frequently manifest itself whenthe plug and jack structures are completely assembled with otherapparatus. Furthermore, the time and expense entailed in locating andcorrecting the trouble may be substantial.

Plug and jack units are frequently made up as multiple units, includinglarge banks or groups, and due to the manner that such devices wereheretofore made, there is a possibility of improper connection of theunits; in other words, a bank of jacks may be misaligned and engagedwith improper jacks; or the panel carrying the jacks may inadvertentlybe reversed end for end.

The present invention is directed to an improved construction whichobviates the foregoing objections and difflculties, and has for one ofits objects the provision of a novel and improved form of plug, made asa single element, and formed to provide a direct terminal connection fora conductor wire.

.Another object is to provide an improved plug construction whichassures positive circuit connection at all times, when the conductorwire is properly connected or soldered thereto.

A further object is to provide an improved plug construction that iseconomical to manufacture and which results in substantial saving ofmaterial and time in assembling on a mounting panel.

Still another object is to provide an improved multiple plug and jackunit which assures proper alignment and engagement of the plugs withtheir cooperating jacks.

And a still further object is to provide an improved multiple plug andjack unit which assures exact alignment of plugs with their cooperatingjacks, and which is characterized by the provision of means whichpermits rockin movement of the panel carrying the plugs during theprocess of disengagement with the jacks, to facilitate separation of theplugs and jacks.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a multiple plug and jack unit assembly,embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the plug-carrying element inthe process of being rocked out of co-operative engagement with thejack-carrying element.

Fig, 3 is an end view of the connected plug and jack elements.

Fig. ,4 is a vertical section through the elements, in disconnectedrelation, taken substantially as indicated at line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through my improved form ofplug construction, shown secured in a mounting panel.

In the drawing I have shown a unit comprising a plurality of sets ofplugs and jacks, arranged in two banks. It is to be understood, however,that devices of this type may be made up of various numbers of sets ofplugs and jacks in a bank or group, as desired. The device is composedof two detachably connectible units, A and B, one carrying the plugs andthe other the jacks respectively. The unit A carrying the plugs,includes a panel I0 of insulating material, from which projects at rightangles, as seen in the drawing, a plurality of elongated plugs Harranged in two parallel, spaced-apart banks or rows. These plugs,preferably, are of cylindrical, tubular form, each having an annularshoulder l2 intermediate its length, seated firmly and directly againstone face of the panel Ill with the end portion above the shoulderprojecting through an aperture in the panel, and terminating asubstantial "distance above the other face of said panel. Saidprojecting end portion of the plug is swaged fiat and enlarged incrosssectional area, as indicated at IS, in relatively close proximityto said other face of the panel, to serve as a head, and thereby firmlysecure the plug in the panel, as may be seen in the drawing. Said swagedportion I5 is formed with an aperture I6 to provide for connection of anelectrical conductor wire, in the usual manner, as by soldering. Thelower end of said plugs is rounded slightly to facilitate their entranceinto the cooperating jacks. It will now be apparent that'by virtue ofthis construction, a substantial saving in both time and material iseffected in fabricating and assembling the plugs in the panel, while atthe same time assuring a positive electrical connection of the plugs,proper with electrical conductor wires.

The unit B carrying the jacks, includes two spaced-apart, substantiallyparallel co-extensive panels i8 of insulating material, disposed onedge,

and supported at their opposite ends on metal bracket supports,including upright legs l9 each of which is formed with a foot 20 adaptedto be secured to a suitable mounting, as by screws or bolts. The legs IQof the brackets and panels l8 are rigidly connected together by rivets22 with a panel 23 of insulating material interposed between therespective pairs of legs l9 and substantially co-extensive with thepanels l8.

Mounted on the outer face of each panel I8 is a plurality of jacks 25 inthe form of stampings, spaced apart a distance correspondingsubstantially to the spacings of the plugs ll, with the jacks on theopposite panels aligned in pairs. The jacks herein disclosed constitutepart of the patentable subject matter of my co-pending applicationSerial No. 149,380, filed June 21, 1937, and they will not, therefore,be herein described in detail. Each jack includes a pair of cooperating,spaced-apart, yieldable fingers '26 forming an upwardly opening mouthfor receiving and firmly embracing the plug H. The spring fingers 26 areof substantial length and are attached at their lower ends to the bodyof the jack, and thus will accommodate substantial deflection byencounter with the plugs in the process of connection and disconnectionof the units A and B. The upper ends of said fingers are curvedoutwardly to facilitate insertion of the plug l I. The lower ends of thejacks are formed with cars 28 for suitable connection with electricalconductr\ wires, as by soldering, to complete the circuit, including theplugs and lacks;

One end of the panel III of plug unit A is formed with an elongatedopening l0 located for alignment and registration with an upstanding lugl9 constituting an upright extension of one of i the legs IQ of jackunit B. By virtue of this arrangement it is impossible to misalign theplugs II with their cooperating jacks 25 nor is it possible toindavertently connect units A and B by end-to-end reversal of unit Abecause the panel l0 must be positioned with its opening lll 'in exactregistration with the lug IQ of unit B. The opening I0 desirably is of asize which will permit bodily rocking movement of unit A carrying theplugs during the process of disconnection of the units, as seen in Fig.2. Such movement facilitates the disconnecting operation, as thefrictional resistance of the jacks 25 embracing the plugs II isgradually overcome by gradually rockit is capable of modification andre-arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scopethereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting thisinvention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as I.

may be so limited in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In an electrical device of the character described, the combinationwith a multiple jack and plug unit comprising two detachably connectibleelements, one of said elements including a panel of insulating materialand a plurality of jacks mounted in a bank on said panel, and

the other of said elements including a panel of insulating material,adapted to be disposed perpendicularly to the other panel when theelementsare connected, and a plurality of elongated plugs arranged in abank and projecting at right angles from said panel, and adapted toengage said jacks to complete portions of a plurality of differentelectrical circuits; of means connected to opposite ends of said panelcarrying said jacks and serving to support said panel on a mounting, andan upwardly projecting lug constituting an extension of the supportmeans and adapted to extend into an opening formed in the panel of theother element carrying the plugs, whereby to assist and assure properregistration of the plugs with their cooperating jacks, when theelements are in the process of being connected.

2. In an electrical device of the character described, the combinationwith a multiple jack and plug unit comprising two detachably connectibleelements, one of said elements including a panel of insulating materialand a plurality of jacks mounted in a bank on said panel with theiropenings extending in a direction substantially parallel to the plane ofthe panel, and the otherv of said elements including a panel ofinsulating material, adapted to be disposed perpendicularly to the otherpanel when the elements are connected, and a plurality of elongatedplugs arranged in a bank and projecting at right angles from said panel,and adapted to engage said jacks to complete portions of a plurality ofdiflferent electrical circuits; of means connected to opposite endsofsaid panel carrying said jacks for supporting said panel on a mounting;and an upwardly projecting lug carried by said last-mentionedelement'and adapted to extend into an elongated opening formed in thepanel of the other element carrying the plugs, said elongated openingbeing dimensioned toprovide adequate clearance for accommodating rockingmovement of the element carrying the plugs when said element is beingdisconnected from the other element.

'I'HEDORE OBSZARNY.

It will be apparent that,

